Sometimes I wonder why I do things.

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Shaving with a straight razor, but more choosing to hone it myself.  Why?  In an off moment, the answer won't pop.  A little time, and I realize that a straight razor, more so if you can hone it yourself, and shave with it of course, can save a large amount of money over it's lifetime.  I suppose I could just go with a beard.  But that doesn't work all of the time.  I don't know if I believe that it offers a closer shave.  The jury is out on that until I see for myself.  I was able to get very close shaves with disposable head razors.  And while that might be a plus, should I find a woman, for myself it doesn't matter much.  Beside the savings, if this every pans out, there is the whole idea of it too.  It is a form of self-sufficiency, an act that is manly... brave... if more for my own thinking.  And it is a skill.  With four razors, should I learn to shave myself well, I could hire out to shave others.  I would never do barbering as a regular thing, but I sure wouldn't mind adding a silver dime to the pot, from time to time.  Same with honing tools, and skills.  This skill goes beyond just shaving gear.  From axes to chisels to planes, sharp tools not only work easily, and more precisely, they might not work at all if dull.  A skill that could easily be bartered, or gifted.  It's sometimes good to have friends.

I have been researching various material, video and reading, regarding this.  Beside having a blade that was too dull, I was running it at too much of an angle, I think.  Even so, it is a spooky thing.  The video I posted of the man doing tutoring of sorts, indicated that there will be pain.  He advised a slow approach for beginners.  I have read that having honed well past 8k grit, I think to 12k with my final stone, I should be able to shave easily.  And, yet, I balk.  I wish shave instructors would be more forthright in what to expect, how long the skills take to actually be functional with the blade, and such.  I suppose they don't want to scare men off, and women too.  There are some brave lasses who use these on their legs and even underarms.  It's sort of like the way married men talk about marriage.  Generally they only tell you the good parts, or mildly neg something or other.  They don't tell you of the nights they wake up in a cold sweat, realizing they are bound to "her", and maybe children.

I know, I know.  But, I also know.  *chuckles*  Yeah, both are better than the options.  Both just take practice, suffering through, giving and learning and all.  But marriage, for sure, is a little death.  A death to self, selfishness, and even access to it.  On both parties part.  You have to learn to get along, to surrender to your duties, giving up much.  The price is worth it.  I know this.  I also, as with the razor, know that the price cuts deep.  Failure isn't just an option, or a probability, but a certainty.  A whole new variety of failures that are not even present to the single man or woman.  And yet, as with all failure, it is the only way to grow beyond the child I still am.  Years will not erase what only experiences can send me beyond.  In that way, both man and woman will learn together regardless of what is different about them otherwise.  An equalizer.

You know...  I may try to shave the cheeks, as he suggested.  And if not too cut, I might hit under the chin.  I've been keeping it trim enough that I just have minor whiskers, so it shouldn't be too bad.  Yeah... I'll go ahead and see what I can do.  The trick is to stop with those.  Like some gamblers, who don't know to quit when ahead, I can forge on into new territories and burn out.  We'll see.  Later.  Actually, probably good night.

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Well, I wouldn't call it great.  But no blood.  I'm still pulling as much as cutting.  I don't mind pulling, though in time that will have to go.  I did the cheeks, the bit under the lip, and 'v' under the neck, the flats under the jawline, and tried some difficult areas, even with razors I am familiar with... the bit the grows from the jaw to around under the ears.  Always a tricky place. It's not a close shave.  I hope that will come with time, and perhaps the extra sharpening stuff that is on order.  No blood!  I didn't even need to use the alum bars I purchased.  The last time I tried this I cut myself, pretty good, randomly.  Alum wasn't enough for those.  I had to stop shaving until those healed.  Same razor, but it wasn't sharp enough.  Perhaps I hadn't found the tutorial at the time, or at least this good of one.  Whatever!  I am on the way to straight razor shaving.